Earliest meeting: Tuesday 15th September 1835
Final meeting: Monday 23rd March 1840
The Seven Stars Public house was situated south east of Oulton and north west of Solihull, with racing staged at the rear of the establishment for a five year period in the middle of the 19th century. The inaugural two day meeting, billed as Birmingham and Solihull races, took place on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th September 1835 on a one mile course close to Oulton (Olton) Reservoir. The principal race on day one was the Birmingham Cup, over 2 miles, which was won by Mr Fowler’s Coquette, while the following day the Hampton Coppice Silver Cup, also over 2 miles, went to Antelope for Mr Barber. After the races had ended a dinner was served, to gentlemen only, at the George Inn. At the meeting on Monday 22nd August 1836 it was estimated that a crowd in excess of 10000 witnessed the Trial Stakes go to Mr Barton’s sister to Presto, while the next day in the Solihull Stakes Jewess defeated Tom Leedham. In April 1837 MPs for North Warwickshire sponsored a race by adding £40 to the prize fund. The final meeting took place on Monday 23rd March 1840 when there was a three race card, but only nine horses were present. It was a dismal end to a venture which promised so much only four years previously. |
| This racecourse is covered in Volume 1 of Racecourses Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. Ordering details shown below. |
| Local Patrons |
North Warwickshire MPs |
| Principal Races |
Birmingham Cup, Hampton Coppice Silver Cup |
Tuesday 28th May 1839
Birmingham Stakes over twice round
1. Betsey, brown mare owned by Mr Barker
2. Miss Foote, brown filly owned by Mr J W Moss
3. Little Comberton, bay gelding owned by Mr Brown
4. Postboy, brown gelding owned by Mr Hugh Taylor |
Meetings continued until the final meeting on Monday 23rd March 1840. |
| Course today |
A one mile course at the rear of the Seven Stars Public House. |
| If you have photos, postcards, racecards. badges, newspaper cuttings or book references about the old course, or can provide a photo of how the ground on which the old racecourse stood looks today, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com |
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727 |
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ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3
652 pages
774 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0
352 pages
400 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7
180 pages
140 former courses |
ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4
264 pages
235 former courses |
| Copies of the above books are only available by emailing johnwslusar@gmail.com stating your requirements, method of payment (cheque payable to W.Slusar) or Bank transfer, and the address where the book(s) should be sent. |
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